Lesson Plan

Andrew Johnson Homestead Virtual Field Trip

Grade Level:: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:: Social Studies
Lesson Duration:: 60 Minutes
State Standards:: (Tennessee State Curriculum Standards for Social Studies)
State Standards (TN): Social Studies. SSP.01, 4.21, 4.35, 4.38, 4.39, 5.41, 8.68, AAH.16, AAH.18, TN.30, TN.31

Essential Question

How does the Johnson Home demonstrate change in our nation’s history?
How important are primary sources when it comes to learning about the past?
What do the artifacts in Andrew Johnson’s home tell us about the life of the former president?
Why are National Historic Sites important?

Objective

Students will be able to identify three changes throughout the history of the Andrew Johnson Home.
Students will analyze objects found in the home and make inferences about Andrew Johnson and his family based on the artifacts.
Students will be able to describe three aspects about life during the 19th-century and differentiate between the periods before, during, and after the Civil War.
Students will be able to explain an outcome of the Civil War and how it changed people’s lives.

Background

The home is like a time capsule of the late 1800’s and has quite a story to tell. It allows us to tell the rich stories of Andrew Johnson, his wife Eliza, their five children, the former enslaved households at the Andrew Johnson Homestead, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Andrew Johnson that had a role in the site becoming a unit of the National Park Service, and much more. Historic sites like this one exist to preserve history and bring it to life through learning. The house tells a story of great change for a family and the nation: including the monumental change our nation went through during the Civil War-era. It demonstrates change brought about by the abolition of slavery. Follow along with the virtual tour and worksheets to see this home’s history unfold!

Access the Virtual Tour: Virtual Tour - Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Questions and suggestions regarding this program are welcome! Also, if you are interested in requesting a Park Ranger to your classroom as a virtual guest speaker, please email us at anjo_education@nps.gov.

Preparation

Materials Needed: Internet access, printed or digital worksheets (insert link for worksheets – pages 5-7 of this document, 8-10 Answer Key).

Materials

Download Virtual Tour Worksheets

Download Answer Key

Lesson Hook/Preview

Who, What, When, Where, Why

Who: Andrew Johnson, Eliza Johnson, the five Johnson children, the five Johnson grandchildren, Margaret Johnson Patterson Bartlett, the former enslaved households: Dolly Johnson, Sam Johnson, Dolly’s children Liz, Florence, and William

What: Historical and cultural resources: Andrew Johnson Home and artifacts, primary resources

When: Andrew Johnson’s life (1808-1875), Johnson family at the Homestead (1852 – 1862, 1869 – 1875), Civil War (1861-1865)

Where is Greeneville, Tennessee? Locate on a map.

Why: NPS mission: To preserve the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of current and future generations.

Procedure

Steps for the program:

1. Read introduction to the class.

2. Locate Greeneville, Tennessee on a map.

3. Provide worksheets for the students and discuss/review vocabulary.

4. Access the Virtual Tour

5. Navigate through the Virtual Tour and follow along with the stops and questions on the worksheet.

6. Post-Tour Activity: Students choose one writing prompt and write at least one paragraph in response. Teacher may choose to give and grade this assignment.

Students may access the park’s site: www.nps.gov/anjo and the Virtual Tour: Virtual Tour - Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) on individual computers and/or tablets, or a teacher can show the Virtual Tour on a Smart Board or projector in the classroom. Internet access is required for this lesson.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary:

19th Century – 1800s

Artifact – an object made by a human being (examples: structures, tools, pottery, jewelry, metal objects)

Civil War – a war between citizens of the same country. The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 – 1865.

Confederacy – Southern states that decided to secede (withdraw) from the United States during the Civil War formed a government called the Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy.

Emancipation – the fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberation, the freeing of someone from slavery.

Manumission – release from slavery; the act of an enslaver granting freedom to an enslaved person.

National Park – a naturally or historically significant area set aside and protected by the government.

Preservation – to maintain something in its original state.

Primary source – an original or first-hand account from people who had a direct connection with it (examples: artifact, diary, photograph, autobiography, video, newspaper)

Secondary source – gives information about a primary source (examples: textbook, biography, documentary, article, or website written about the topic)

Union – During the Civil War, the Northern states that stayed loyal to the United States were called the Union.

Assessment Materials

Answer Key Worksheets

Post-Tour Activity: Writing Prompts

Writing Prompts

Choose an artifact that you saw during your field trip to the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site. Describe the artifact and compare/contrast its purpose and use in the 19th Century (1800’s) to what people use today. Examples: chamber pots, tailoring items, fireplaces, etc.
Choose one of the Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, or 15th Amendment) in the United States Constitution. Write about why the amendment is important and how it impacted people after the Civil War.
How does the National Park Service preserve the nation’s natural, cultural, and historical resources? Why are national parks (and national historic sites) important?
Choose three positions held by Andrew Johnson throughout his political career and describe the position’s role. (Options: Mayor, Congressman – Senator or Representative, Governor, Vice President, President)
Write about the similarities and differences between Andrew Johnson’s 19th century (1800’s) homes and houses today.
Write about three things you learned at the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site about U.S. history.